What are we doing in the garden 2025

There are things that need doing but can wait.

 

We had to replace the polycarbonate roof on our conservatory with a glass one (long and complicated story). We kept the poly and it has been used at various times around the garden. 2 years ago decided to get rid of 2 enormous compost areas that never seemed to compost down. Replaced them with 3 small compost areas made from the poly with the front part fixed with cable ties so that it could be removed in order to spread the compost. This morning the last one was emptied onto one of the veg patches and fabulous compost it is. An experiment that has worked well and beneficial for the soil.

 

I have 3 of those cone shaped compost bins and they're great don't have to airerate the contents.

 

Hi,

Back from my 100 mile trip to visit friends. Thursday was my planned day to resume couch grass hostilities but the morning is already spoken for; I'll collect the laptop but after all the parents have dropped off their little uns making it a nightmare to get up the lane; the school has large areas of grassland adjoining the lane but not the sense to create off lane parking; 310 new houses are being built at the valley bottom below me; better to put everyone at risk.

Whilst at my friends today I offered to take my petrol chainsaw down next year to fell and log a tree at the corner of their rear garden; I've not had any chainsaw action since I removed the big oak tree; the chainsaw will think I've fallen out with it.

I wonder what fun awaits for tomorrow afternoon?

Kind regards, Col.

 

Well I ended up pruning three different shrubs to the intended.

 

Hi,

No gardening this morning; I need to collect my laptop from the computer shop but the shop doesn't open until 10 o'clock; the gardens are soaking wet after overnight rain but I'm dreaming once again of resuming couch grass hostilties unless I get sidetracked this afternoon; I'm fully retired entirely on my own but don't seem to have any control over my life; I've declared all out war on the couch grass but can't reach the front line; drones might be the answer.

Kind regards, Col.

 

Just make sure you test that chainsaw before lugging it all the way back to your friends @Retired!
Take care too.
Do you often get sidetracked when intending doing a specific thing @NigelJ ? I'm the same. Ten other things done but not the things I mean to do
Nothing done yesterday here, and today might be wet or it might not, so I'll wait and see what happens, but the clem. support green roof is the main thing. I didn't go and get the bits and pieces I need/want the other day, so I'll do that later. The grit is the most useful thing, for topping the pots of bulbs I've done and the girls got me voucher for B&Q as a birthday present [they know me so well!] so that'll get used. I always need screws/paint/random stuff, so it's perfect for me.

 

Hi,

Many thanks @fairygirl for your useful suggestion. I will indeed test the chainsaw but also I'll take along a new chain; chain file; chain oil; fuel mix; ear defenders; gloves; ropes and everything else I'll need; the car will be fully loaded; I'll also take along a stick longer than my arms length.




The stick works but this 65' tall tree only just fitted into the garden but at an angle otherwise it could have dangerously landed across the adjoining lane; it was windy and I had difficulty remaining upright against the wind and the steep slope hence I had to readjust the back cut which I started too low.



Some of the 30+ very tall trees up to 80' I cleared in order to create the wildflower meadows; stumps and roots were a real pain to get out but I stuck with it. The trees were becoming too dangerous in high wind; I like trees and it upset me to clear them. I gave tons of free logs away the brash I shredded and used as mulch.

If ever I find an easy job to do here I'll think there's something wrong; we always called our rear garden our mini park. Now the trees are gone to be replaced by couch grass.

I don't recommend a novice to mess around with a chainsaw; things can go wrong in seconds.

Kind regards, Col.

 

Now that just puts me in mind of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

 

The only important thing @fairygirl is that they are jobs that needed doing.

 

Right back on topic: today check cuttings in the propagator, check the greenhouse and then after that one or more of the following move tatty dahlias from front to greenhouse, tidy up prunings from yesterday, more pruning, weeding or take rubbish down to compost heap.

 

Pea and broad bean sowing for me this pm. I sowed some unsoaked broad beans on Tuesday pm but have soaked these, as per @NigelJ's system, and will note any difference in germination and growth.

We have a chap from SPANC coming this pm to check our septic tank and waste water treatment system so I'll need a chat with him cos my French is better than OH's and then he can help me quarry more stones in the new rose bed so I can prep the rest of the soil for perennial and bulb planting.

 

Hi,

Fortunately @NigelJ I didn't cause any collateral damage whilst felling all my trees unlike the guys in the video.

I finally got cracking with the couch grass this afternoon but it's a very slow process; it's taken over an hour and half to clear one small section; but now there are also thousands of tiny seedlings covering the meadows; possibly from the wildflowers reseeding themselves; these aren't a problem; weedkiller will clear them.


Weapons of choice; rubber shower mat to kneel on.


This couch grass is very well established and is going to take a great deal of time and effort to eradicate. Rotavating has helped because there's a covering of dead rhizomes on the soil surface.


I've had to quit now beaten by lack of daylight and I've already had enough kneeling on the steep slope. I might find it to be easier if I use a full sized fork rather than hand trowel; it's worth a try but I want to remove as much as possible in one go. The soil quality is excellent but it's only about 2" thick then subsoil.


I'm trying to clear one problem but here's another; the meadows are covered in these tiny seedlings. It proves the weedkiller I'm using only kills live weeds whilst not preventing new growth; the Pistol Herbicide killed the lot but I'm unable to buy it now without certificate. It's cheered me up just getting into the garden at last.

Kind regards, Col.

 

This afternoon I cleared all the leaves off the path, steps and borders in my lower garden where there’s a mature Acer and Rowan as the main litter louts . Next week I’m having a section of chain link fencing replaced with wooden fencing so I cleared the area of leaves and recent hedge trimmings to make it easier for the workers. I also cut my Clematis Etoile Violette back to about a foot above ground level and removed all the dying stems and foliage off my arch, again to make access easier for the fencers. I usually cut it down at this time of year anyway, not following pruning convention, but it doesn’t seem to suffer. I’m selective about the amount of dying foliage I can tolerate over winter .